Loose-leaf device



Nov. 9, 1937. A. M. RABINOF LOOSE LEAF DEVICE Filed Jan. 6, 1936 INVENTOR Abraham M. Rabmof ATTORN'EY Patented Nov. 9, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOOSE-LEAF DEVICE Abraham M. Rabinof, New Rochelle, N. Y.

Application January 6, 1936, Serial No. 57,793

Claims.

This invention relates to loose-leaf devices, particularly those having embodied therein a set of split rings adapted to be opened and closed by manual manipulation.

In most loose-leaf books of this character, therings are brought into their open positions by manually spreading them apart; and in other devices of this nature,'theopening operation is effected .by the use of flat pressboard inserts suspended from. the rings and flanking the looseleaf pages, or by applying manual pressure to an element contained within the covers of the book. In some instances, where pressure can be applied to an outside portion of the book to cause an opening of the rings, a relatively expensive structure is necessary. It is hence within the contemplation of this invention to improve upon existing devices in this category by presenting a novel structure of simple and inexpensive design,-one which will eliminate the cost'and operating disadvantages of other loose-leaf devices, and which will particularly facilitate the opening and closing of the rings.

Another object'of this invention is to enable a loose-leaf device to be readily operated upon instant inspection, by rendering visible the precise portion of the book which is to be manually manipulated from the outside by simple finger pressure.

Still another object of this invention is t permit of the easy and ready assembly of the parts comprising the structure, and to enable certain elements thereof to be readily applied to existing devices to eifectuate the results contemplated by my invention.

Other objects, features and advantages will appear from the drawing and the description hereinafter given.

Referring to the drawing,

Figure 1 is a rear view of a closed loose-leaf book containing one form of my invention wherein an exposed button is adapted for manual pressure to open the series of split rings.

Figure 2 is a vertical section of Figure 1 taken through line 22. I

Figure 3 is a transverse section of Figure 2 taken along line 33.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary end view of the device of Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section of Figure 2 taken along line 5-5.

' Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary end sectlon showing the position of the parts when the book is opened after the application of pressure upon the exposed button.

In the drawing, the book consists of the covers l2 and I3 joined by the flexible middle portion M. The channel-like housing i5 is open at the sections 23 of the rings being connected -to the element 2|, and the sections 24 to the element 22. The said coacting elements 2| and 22' have abutting edges 25 and 26 which are in constant engagement and movable to an upper level where the rings are closed, as shown in Figure ,5, and to a lower level where the rings are open, as shown in Figure 6, by means of toggle action and the resilient base 20.

cognizance is taken of the fact that a portion of the loose-leaf device above described is, in principle at least, frequently employed in various structures. It is my purpose, in setting forth the novelty of my invention, as disclosed in the various forms thereof, to apply manual pressure from the outside of such a structure upon the middle portion of the book, such as l4 above referred to,this pressure to be applied at a predetermined point as indicated by a visible marker. My invention contemplates that this middle portion be flexible, so that the pressure applied thereupon can be transmitted to a depressing member or plate interposed between said middle portion and the parallel coacting elements such as 2| and 22 above referred to. This-will cause a downward movement of the plate, and a consequent depression of the said abutting edges 25 and 26 from their upper or closed level to the lower level where the rings will be opened. Some of the forms of my invention which will accomplish this purpose will hereinafter be set forth.

Referring to Figure 2, it will be seen that the plate 21, consisting of a small flat section of metal,.is interposed between the middle portion l4 and the coacting elements 2i and 22. This plate is attached to or suspended from the shank of a rivet or button 28, which extends through an opening in the portion 14 and is suitably attached thereto,the top or head of the button being visibly exposed.

In the operation of the above-described form of my invention, downward manual pressure is applied upon the button 28, which will cause the middle portion I4 to flex downwardly to force the plate 21 against the elements 2| and 22, The resulting pressure forces the abutting edges 25 and 26 of these elements downwardly to their lower projected level to cause a spreading apart ofthe sections 23 and 24 of the split rings l8 and I9, into their open positions. It

will thus readily be seen that it is the flexibility of the portion I4 which permits a proper functioning of this device, and that the suspension of the button and attached plate 21 from portion I 4 obviates the use of an underlying supporting member such as the usual stiffener employed in loose-leaf binders. The housing I5 is completely enclosed except for the top'opening, and the closure therefor is the abovereferred-to flexible middle portion [4. And inasmuch as the button 28 is exposed to view, it,

serves as a visible marker upon which pressure can be applied at the proper point. If the surface of this button contains a notation, suchas the words press down, any person will be able to operate this device upon first inspection. Such an arrangement has the obvious advantage of eliminating guess work in locating the point of manual manipulation, and is eifective in en abling pressure to be applied to that portion of the device which will cause a most efficient operation thereof,that is, a quick opening with the least amount of effort.

I The employment of the flaps l6 and I1, preferably as an integral part of the housing, further simplifies the construction, inasmuch as the terminal portions of these flaps are bent back upon themselves to firmly clasp therebetween the lateral sides of the portion I4 without the use of any additional securing means,-thereby rendering the device easy to assemble and inexpensive to fabricate. Although the coacting elements2l and 22 are shown to be longitudinally disposed wires forming continuous parts 'of the sections 23 and 24 of the rings, it is apparent that this invention is equally applicable to other analogous structures, such as those containing two parallel abutting plates extending lengthwise of the housing.

It will be noted that in the form of my invention hereinabove referred to, a depressing member or plate is interposed between the flexible middle portion of the book and longitudinally disposed coacting member associated with split rings, the said middle portion containing visible markers upon which pressure is applied to cause an opening of the rings. It will also be observed that there is a housing completely enclosed except for a top'opening which iscovered by the said middle portion,said housing being channellike in shape and containing lateral flaps the terminals of which serve as clamps for the middle portion.

It is of course understood that the various embodiments above described and shown in the drawing are illustrative of my invention and not employed by way of limitation, inasmuch as numerous changes and modifications maybe made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of this invention.

What I claim is: V

1. In a loose-leaf book, a pair of covers joined by a flexible middle portion, a channel-like housing on the inner face of said middle portion and open at the side towards said face and having end flaps the terminals of which are in clamping engagement with the lateral sides of the middle portion, two coacting elements extending lengthwise within the housing and having abut- V ting edges movable inwardly of the book, a split ring each section of which extends through the base of the housing and is 'operatively associated with said elements, depressing means secured to said flexible middle portion and positioned intermediate said middle portion and said coacting elements and engageable therewith to operatively depress said abutting edges inwardly of the book, and a visible marker carried by said middle portion and affixed to said depressing means and being adapted to receive manual pressure thereupon for flexing said middle portion inwardly and consequently forcing said depressing means into operative engagement with said coacting elements.

2. In a loose-leaf book, a pair of covers joined by a flexible middle portion, a channel-like housing on the inner face of said middle portion and open at the side towards said face and. having end flaps the terminals of which are in clamping engagement with the lateral sides of the middle portion, two coacting elements extending lengthwise within the housing and havingabut ting edges movable inwardly of the book,'a split ring each section of which extends through the base of the housing and is operatively associated with said elements, depressing .means secured to said flexible middle portion and positioned intermediate said middle portion and said coacting elements and engageable therewith to operatively depress said abutting edges inwardly of the book, and an exposed button carried by said middle portion and. extending through a hole therein, said button being attached to said depressing means and being adapted to receive manual pressure thereupon for flexing said middle portion inwardly and consequently forcing said depressing means into operative engagement with saideach section of which extends through the base of the housing and is operatively associated with said elements, a substantially flat plate intermediate and contiguous to said flexible middle portion and said coacting elements and engageable therewith to depress saidabutting edges inwardly of the book, and an exposed button carried by said middle portion and extending through a hole therein, said button having attached thereto the said plate.

4. In a loose-leaf book, a pair of covers joined by a flexible middle portion, a channel-like housing on the inner face of said middle portion and open at the side towards said face andhaving end flaps the terminals of which are in clamping engagement with the lateral sides of the middle portion, two coacting elements extending lengthwise within the housing and having abutting edges movable inwardly of the book, a split ring each section of which extends through the base of the housing and is operatively associated 7 with said elements, a substantially fiat plate extending lengthwise within the housing and positioned intermediate said flexible middle portion and said coacting elements and contiguous therewith, and a visible marker carried by said middle portion and attached to said plate and being adapted to receive manual pressure thereupon for flexing said middle portion inwardly to force said plate into operative engagement with the said coacting elements.

5. In a loose-leaf book having a pair of covers joined by a flexible middle portion, a housing on the innermost face of the middle portion and open at the side towards said face, separable split ring means extending through the base of the housing, depressing means secured to said flexible middle portion and operatively engageable with said split ring means for causing them to separate, and an exposed button attached to said depressing means and adapted to receive manual pressure thereupon for flexing said middle portion inwardly of the book and operatively actuating the depressing means.

ABRAHAM M. RABINOF.

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